Chengalput Perumal Kovil
You will feel you are not in a town by the name Chengalput but in heaven when you are inside the beautiful Sri Kothanda Ramaswami temple in the serene atmosphere surrounded by green-looking mountains on the backdrop. Though the temple is named Sri Kothanda Ramaswami temple, the main deity of Sri Ramaswami appears as described in the sloka "vaithehi sahitham...," sitting on a raised platform in the veerasana posture and his right hand showing the gyana mudhra with his consort Sri Vaithehi on his side. His anuja Sri Lashmana is seen standing by his side, and the other anujas Bharata and Shatrugna are sitting in front along with Sri Prapanjana Sutha, alias Sri Anjaneya, with anjali hasta. Sri Rama giving the gyanopadesa to Sri Anjaneya in this serene atmosphere is a feast to the eyes, and one would be mesmerised by the sheer grace of the Lord Sri Ramaswami. However, the 'uthsava moorthi' is Kothanda Raman.
Sri Varadharaja Swami Sannidhi
On the left side of Sri Ramaswami sannidhi is the sannidhi of Sri Varadharaja Swami, the original presiding deity of this temple. Sri Varadharaja Swami holding the Sudarshan chakra in prayoga posture in his right hand, is facing south. There is a separate Thaayar sannidhi for Sri Perundevi. The 'uthsava moorthi' of Sri Varadharaja Swami is present with Mata Sri Sri Devi and Sri Booma Devi. The temple built around 1041 A.D., is popularly known as Perumal Koil.
Sri Thima Raja Jamindar shifted the temple in 1768.
There was a temple for Lord Sri Pattabiramar in the fort area of then Chengalput. When there was an
invasion of the Hindu temples by others, Sri Thima Raja Jamindar, the local chieftain, shifted the
Lord Sri Pattabiramar temple to the complex of Sri Varadharaja Swami temple in the year 1768. The
Jamindar was the father of Sri Chengalvarayan, after whom the place has acquired the name Chengalput.
In the year 1887 on the occasion of the golden jubilee celebration rule of HM Queen Victoria, an
ornament was gifted to the Lord.
Sri Anjaneya Swami Sannidhi
There is a separate Sannidhi for Veera Anjaneya in the northwest corner of the complex, this corner as per Vaastu Shastra is ruled by Vayu. The Lord Anjaneya Swami of this temple is seen in a unique posture. With one hand He is giving abhaya and the other hand resting on his hip and also holding a large lotus. His tail is raised, and a small bell is tied to the end of the tail. Rudhra, held the "Kalan" tide to the ground as Kala samhara murthi in Thirukataiyur, here Anjaneya is seen holding Sri Sani Bhagawan to the ground.
Anjaneya sang in praise of Lord Rama and danced while he was carrying on with his mission. Every time he was jumping while dancing, the stones were also jumping, and Sani was getting crushed in between. Sani Bhagawan was unable to bear the pain given by these jumping stones. He requested Anjaneya that he may be relieved of this task and that he would prefer to stick around the feet of Anjaneya instead of his head. What happened next is interesting.
Legend: Sri Sani Bhagawan and Sri Anjaneya
The story behind this special roopa of Anjaneya goes like this:
When Anjaneya was standing on the top of mountain Mahendra, ready to leap to Lanka, Sani Bhagawan, the son of Lord Surya, came to Anjaneya and told him that his seven and-a-half-years of tenure with him were to start. Anjaneya told him that since he is on Sri Rama's (who is also a Surya Vensi) mission, and going to Lanka, as the son of Surya, Sani should spare him for the time, and on return from Lanka, he will come to Sani Bhagawan. The proposal was agreed upon by Sani and Sani Bhagawan was waiting for Anjaneya on the mountain Mahendra.
But in zeal to assist Sri Rama in accomplishing the task of meeting Sri Sita, Anjaneya had forgotten the promise he made to Sani Bhagawan. Anjaneya Swami was assisting in the building of the bridge to Lanka. He was carrying lots of stones to put across the ocean on his head. Sani Bhagawan came to Anjaneya and reminded him of the promise he made, and asked him as to which part of Anjaneya's body he should occupy. Again, Anjaneya pleaded with him to spare him for the time being. But duty-bound Sani Bhagawan told him that there could be no relaxation to the duty this time. Anjaneya thought for a while and suggested to Sani Bhagawan that while performing his duty, Sani should also assist Rama by doing some labour, just like a small squirrel that was also doing its mite. Sani Bhagawan asked Anjaneya how he could assist Rama, to which Anjaneya said, "Carry some stones on your head and sit on my head." With the promise to assist Rama while performing his duty, Sani agreed to this, and Sani therefore, carried some stones on the head and sat on Anjaneya's head. Now Sani was caught between the stone on his head and the stone in the head of Anjaneya.
Sri Anjaneya pinning Sri Sani Bhagawan
Anjaneya sang in praise of Lord Rama and danced while he was carrying on with his mission. Every time he was jumping while dancing, the stones were also jumping, and Sani was getting crushed in between. Sani Bhagawan was unable to bear the pain given by these jumping stones. He requested Anjaneya that he may be relieved of this task and that he would prefer to stick around the feet of Anjaneya instead of his head. Anjaneya was busy carrying stones for the Sethu Bandhan and did not pay any heed to the request of Sani Bhagawan. Lord Rama intervened on hearing the noise created by Sani Bhagawan and told Anjaneya to have a considerate view of Sani. Anjaneya then released Sani Bhagawan from his head. But pinned Sani Bhagawan to the ground before Sani could cling to Anjaneya's feet.
Sani Bhagawan once again requested Anjaneya and Rama, to release him from the clutch with these words:
yo vakthirama the nama maruthe: abiva swayam
kshanam thathra ne thishteyam sathyam prethi srunoomethe |
"O Rama, even for a kshanam (micro-second) I will not hold (even see) those who spell your name or Maruthi's name;" with these words, Sani Bhagawan goes to his abode.
The idol of Veera Anjaneya moorti of this temple depicts this part of history in the life of Anjaneya.
Location of the temple: "Sri Veera Anjaneya Swami Temple, Chengalputtu"
Experience
There is no doubt in the minds of Anjaneya Bhakthas that the Lord is the savior. Offering prayers to him, one could live rid of all sankatas, for he is a Sankata mokshana Prabhu.
SRI HANUMAN THINKS DIFFERENTLY, THINKS FAST
THINKS AHEAD AND ACTS FOR SURE
Ed [13.12.2002]
Update [Dec 2024]